Ex-servicemen participate in marathon to demand implementation of OROP scheme

Hundreds of ex-servicemen organized a marathon in the national capital to reiterate their demand for implementation of the One Rank, One Pension (OROP) scheme on the occasion of 16th anniversary of Kargil Vijay Diwas today.

The marathon was held from Dhaula Kuan area to India Gate.

An ex-serviceman, who participated in the marathon, said they will keep fighting for their rights till their demands are not met.

"We are fighting for our rights. One Rank, One Pension is our right, which we will get it. We have waited patiently for a long time. Now, we are going to come on the roads and if army comes on the road, problem is going to come with the country, country will disintegrate. So, we must make sure that we get our rights. After all in peace or war we have been coming to your help, but you media people have never covered us. That is why it is not known to people what we are fighting for," he said.

Many civilians and families of ex-servicemen also participated in the marathon.

"As you know, 16 years back Indian soldiers had fought Pakistani intruders in which 527 soldiers lost their lives. So, on its 16th anniversary our ex- servicemen are organizing a solidarity march where they are demanding the implementation of One Rank, One Pension scheme. They have been demanding this scheme for the last 40 years. They have also protested at the Jantar Mantar. So, this marathon is to support them," said Ankit Gupta, a civilian, who participated in the marathon.

The One Rank, One Pension scheme has been a long-standing demand of ex-servicemen. It seeks to ensure that a uniform pension is paid to defence personnel, who retire at the same rank with the same length of service, irrespective of their date of retirement.